Pakistan Media Rattled As India Moves Ahead With ‘Operation Sawalkote’

Last Updated:February 14, 2026, 21:09 IST

The move that has sent shockwaves through Islamabad’s political corridors marks the first major strategic infrastructure push since India placed the IWT in abeyance.

Pakistani media has been rattled after the Narendra Modi government officially set in motion the 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River — a development first revealed by CNN-News18.

The move that has sent shockwaves through Islamabad’s political and media corridors marks the first major strategic infrastructure push since India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, signaling New Delhi’s resolve to proceed with critical hydropower projects in Jammu & Kashmir.

The news of the Sawalkote project has triggered a meltdown across Pakistani media outlets with major news channels and national dailies running marathon transmissions accusing India of attempting to “dry up Pakistan," as learned by CNN-News18.

Several outlets went as far as labeling the project as “Fifth Generation Warfare" and coining the term “Water Terrorism."

Panels and editorials over the last 48 hours have framed the development as part of a broader “dewatering strategy," alleging that India intends to weaponize water flows from the Chenab basin.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson expressed the development as “grave concern," and vowed to fight what it called a violation of the 1960 treaty while India maintained this project was within its developmental rights.

“We have formally sought detailed information from India regarding the Sawalkote project. Pakistan will not compromise on its water rights," the spokesperson said.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, India said any development project undertaken within the country is based on its own “understanding".

“Any development project that happens in India is based on our understanding. That is how we look at this particular project," the MEA said.

Officials have underlined that Sawalkote is designed as a run-of-the-river project — a category permitted under the treaty framework — and does not involve diversion of water outside the river basin.

The Pakistan foreign office has formally requested consultations and information regarding the Sawalkote dam project, with the spokesperson saying the matter has been raised at the level of the Indus water commissioners.

Pakistan’s Indus water commissioner reportedly issued letters in July, and as recently as 11 February, to their Indian counterpart seeking information and consultations mandated by the IWT.

While Pakistan called for a return to full treaty compliance, India maintained its sovereign right to manage its own infrastructure, especially as the project follows a period where the IWT has been effectively paused by the Centre.

What Is Sawalkote Dam Project?

The Sawalkote hydroelectric project is a massive undertaking by the NHPC Ltd, at an estimated cost of Rs 5,129 crore.

Located in the Udhampur and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the project is situated on the Chenab River positioned between the existing Baglihar project upstream and the Salal project downstream.

The project will feature a Roller Compacted Concrete Gravity Dam with a height of 192.5 m from the deepest foundation level, ensuring river diversion through three horseshoe-shaped tunnels, as per the tender document. An underground Power House will be constructed on the left bank of the Chenab River, downstream of the dam, with an installed capacity of 1,800 MW divided into eight units of 225 MW each.

Additionally, a 56 MW power station will utilise the released water to meet environmental flow requirements, bringing the total plant capacity to 1,856 MW (1,800 + 56 MW).

The project plans for non-monsoon and monsoon period flood diversion at 2,977 cumec and 9,292 cumec, respectively. The three diversion tunnels will measure 965 m, 1,130 m, and 1,280 m in length. The project is designed as a run-of-the-river scheme.

The project was originally conceived in the 1960s by the Central Water Commission, with geological investigations conducted by the Geological Survey of India between 1962 and 1971. The Detailed Project Report was last submitted in February 2018.

Sawalkote also forms part of a broader push to fast-track hydropower infrastructure on the Chenab river system, alongside projects such as the Pakal Dul, Kiru, and Ratle dams.

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